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The plan of the United States President Donald Trump to make a deal with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin because of Ukraine and his administration's new approach to transatlantic ties left worried European leaders.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a meeting with a Russian delegation, led by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and aimed at terminating the war in Ukraine on Tuesday.
The meeting in the capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, comes after Trump spoke with Putin last week and agreed to negotiate peace to end the three -year conflict without incorporating his European allies. Trump also said he could meet Putin in Saudi Arabia.
This has caused concern among European leaders and Ukraine President Volodimir Zelenski, who warned that Kiev would not recognize a deal without his participationS
“There are no decisions for Ukraine without Ukraine … Europe must have a place on the table when decisions are made for Europe,” Zelenski said at the Munich Security Conference this weekend.
So, what is the new approach of the Trump administration and how will Europe respond to the new reality?
What is on the agenda in US-Russia talks in Riyadh?
Rubio, together with National Security Advisor Mike Walz and a special envoy in the Middle East Steve Vitkof, held talks with the Russian delegation led by Lavrov.
Along with the goals of resetting the destroyed relationship between Washington and Moscow, negotiations in Riyadh may probably prepare for a possible meeting between Trump and Putin. The talks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters will be “mostly dedicated to the restoration of the entire complex of Russian-American relations.”
“The world is breathless as the meeting between these high -ranking Riyadh staff has begun,” said Julia Shapovala al Jazeera, adding that no breakthrough is expected.
“Setting up the conflict in Ukraine, as well as the improvement of Russia-sustaining, which have affected the rocky bottom on the agenda,” she said, Moscow reported.
Why are Europe and Ukraine concerned that they are not invited to the Riyadh summit?
Zelenski, who travels to the United Arab Emirates on Monday, reiterated that he would not make any decisions between the US and Russia for Ukraine.
European leaders also expressed their fears about the exclusion of Europe and Ukraine from discussions and expressed that they wanted to be part of the negotiations.
“Therefore, the dictated peace will never find our support,” said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz over the weekend after Trump's unilateral overture in Putin on Wednesday.
Later, Trump told reporters that Zelenski would participate in the negotiations without giving further explanation. Keith Kelloge, US Messenger to Ukraine, also tried to assure that A deal will not be imposed on UkraineS
Kellog is headed for Kyiv on a three -day visit.
Kiev, who has lost nearly 20 percent of his territory and thousands of lives, would like to have a deal to deal with his legitimate security concerns.
“We are looking for a strong and lasting peace in Ukraine. In order to achieve this, Russia must end its aggression and this must be accompanied by strong and reliable security guarantees for the Ukrainians, “French President Emmanuel Macron published on the X day after he hosted European leaders in Paris.
European leaders are concerned “because neither Ukraine nor Europe are represented. And they think Trump will sell Ukraine along the river, “Timothy Ash, an associate in the Russian and Eurasia program at Chatham House, told Al Jazeera.
“They are afraid of such a result as Trump's messages about Gaza – he just doesn't interest him,” Ash said, citing Trump's proposal to “take over” Gaza after the Palestinians displace, which would be an ethnic cleansing and a war crime.
How do European leaders respond to the change of Trump's policy regarding Ukraine and transatlantic ties?
European leaders have been left to seek for answers after the new Trump administration has increased the US policy in Ukraine over the last three years and has presented proposals that will change the dynamics of the Transatlantic Union, which has existed since 1949.
On Sunday, KellinTrump's envoy to Ukraine has announced that Europe will not be on the table for the peace talks of Ukraine. Last week, US Secretary of Defense Pete Heges said that membership in the Northern Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for Ukraine was “unrealistic”.
In accordance with Trump's rhetoric that Europe should increase its NATO costs, Heget said that Europe should increase its financial and military responsibilities in Ukraine. He also excluded the deployment of US troops in Ukraine after being signed with every deal with Russia. US Vice President JD Vance has repeated the same point: Brussels must “activate in a great way to secure its own protection.”
Dailed by the tone and the messages of Trump's best assistants, European leaders on Monday gathered in Paris to come up with their next steps. Macron has joined leaders from Germany, Denmark, Poland, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands, along with NATO and European Union officials.
“Ready and willing,” Chief Mark Rute published on X on Monday.
The European Nations has strengthened their contribution to Kiev in recent years, providing nearly $ 140 billion in Ukraine, more than the United States, which has spent about $ 120 billion after the war broke out in February 2022.
Ash from Chatham's House explained that Europe “realizes the US is an unreliable partner,” as Trump's overture to Putin is seen by some as a betrayal from a key ally.
The main fear in Europe is Russian aggression beyond Ukraine, as Washington has been a security guarantor for decades through NATO Alliance. But Trump wanted Europe to take more responsibility for its security. According to media reports, the US wants to take out some of its troops from Europe.
In 2014, NATO Member States promised to contribute at least two percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) for defense, but more than 10 years later, only 23 of the 32 members had fulfilled their commitment. Trump wants them to increase defense costs to five percent of GDP.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday published on X, saying that “we need a leap in defense in Europe.”
The transatlantic break is coming as Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on Europe, calling economic relations with the European Union “atrocity”.
European leaders have said they will take revenge if Trump begins a trade war. Trump has already hit steep tariffs in several countries, including China.
Can Europe provide security guarantees to Ukraine?
Last week, European sources announced that Washington had distributed a questionnaire among European leaders, asking what the countries could contribute to the security guarantees for Ukraine. However, Al Jazeera did not see the questionnaire.
The Trump administration wants Europe to occupy the front seat to maintain security in Kiev, as the US has other priorities such as border security.
Anatol Liven, the Eurasian Program Director at the Institute for Responsible Statecraft, told Al Jazeera that there are key concerns that only Washington and Moscow can negotiate.
“This includes, obviously, NATO membership, because it is for NATO, led by the US, to invite new members.”
However, Liven said: “As for the reconstruction of Ukraine and Ukrainian membership in the European Union, it will be for Ukrainians and Europeans to decide.”
At a meeting in Paris, European leaders failed to agree whether the troops should be sent to Ukraine after a peaceful deal.
“Nothing has emerged from the public statements from the Paris meeting, which shows that Europe is closer to supply, let alone apply whatever it is,” said Cayer Jiles, a senior consulting contributor to Chatham House, in front of AL AL Jazeera.
The United Kingdom Prime Minister Kyar Starmer is sailing the idea of sending British troops to Ukraine as well as in Sweden. But German Chancellor Scholz called on the discussion to unleash the troops “completely premature”.
Giles added that with regard to the deployment of troops in Ukraine, “the military burdens in Europe are either too hesitant as Germany, or they realize that this puts its own security at risk as Finland.”
This raises questions about how – and where – such a power will be created.
“Although Scholz has written this conversation as prematurely, he must have to find out what Europe's goals are,” Giles told Al Jazeera.
